SOUTH WAYNE - Both Black Hawk junior C.J. Leuzinger and sophomore Conner Meyer scored 23 points to power the Warriors to an 68-58 win over Cambria-Friesland in a WIAA Division 5 boys basketball regional semifinal game Friday.
Black Hawk (20-4) advances to play Pecatonica for a regional championship at 7 p.m. today in Blanchardville.
"We wanted to make a playoff run," Black Hawk coach Charlie Anderson said. "I'm proud we were able to get to the regional final."
Leuzinger knocked down four of the Warriors' seven 3-pointers. Black Hawk senior Josh Meier added 10 points, and junior Jett Rufenacht chipped in seven points.
Pecatonica swept two games against Black Hawk this season. The Vikings knocked off the Warriors 66-51 Dec. 6 in Blanchardville and 54-53 in overtime Jan. 20 in South Wayne.
It will be a short turnaround before for the regional final, but the Warriors know what to expect against the Vikings. Pecatonica's A.J. Hendrickson is averaging 25 points per game in two games against the Warriors this year.
"A.J. will score his points," Anderson said. "He's an outstanding offensive and defensive player. He's the best player in our conference. It will be a battle. Both teams know each other. We just have to make sure we can contain and do a good job on the other guys. It will come down to who makes the big plays last."
Pecatonica 54, Juda 51
BLANCHARDVILLE - Juda senior Matt Schmitt scored a team-high 20 points, but Pecatonica got a big game from senior A.J. Hendrickson and was able to hang on for a thrilling victory in a WIAA Division 5 regional semifinal game.
Juda junior Keagen Haffele scored on a layup with 20 seconds to go to give the Panthers a one-point lead. Hendrickson answered by making a layup with 12 seconds left to give the Vikings a 52-51 lead. The Vikings came up with a steal, and sophomore Colten Schraepfer made two free throws with 2 seconds to go.
Hendrickson scored a game-high 23 points, and Schraepfer added 16 points.
Pecatonica (19-5) made 11 of 27 free throws.
"Juda played at a really high level, and I think that had more to do with it than our free-throw shooting," Pecatonica coach Matt Fink said of the close game. "They got into some foul trouble in the second half. Their kids never gave up. I think more than anything, I have a lot of respect for Juda. They were very gritty. It was a crazy game."
Juda also struggled from the free-throw line, shooting 50 percent (10 of 20). The Panthers hit five 3-pointers as a team. Juda senior Joe Rackow added 13 points, including two 3-pointers.
Junior Keagen Haffele chipped in 11 points for Juda, which finishes the season at 15-9.
Fink understands the two previous games will not have any bearing on tonight's regional final showdown against Black Hawk.
"I don't think there is a team playing better basketball in Division 5 than Black Hawk right now," Fink said. "Our two wins against them earlier this season don't mean anything now."
New Glarus 69, Belleville 46
NEW GLARUS - Sophomore point guard Jaden Kreklow scored a game-high 20 points and hit three 3-pointers to help New Glarus roll over Belleville in a WIAA Division 4 regional semifinal.
Sophomore Zach Feller added 15 points, including three 3-pointers. Junior Cullen Brooks pitched in nine points, and sophomore Trevor Gassman chipped in seven points.
Second-seeded New Glarus will host third-seeded Deerfield in a regional title game at 7 p.m. today.
Belleville's Drew Sharder scored a team-high 16 points and did most of his damage at the foul line, making 10 of 12. Brock Kelly pitched in 11 points.
Darlington 87, Cambridge 63
DARLINGTON - Second-ranked Darlington cruised over Cambridge.
Darlington (23-0), moves on to host SWAL rival Mineral Point in a regional championship game at 7 p.m. today. The Redbirds swept two games against Pointers this season. The Redbirds defeated the Pointers 78-58 in their first meeting Dec. 13 at Mineral Point. However, the Pointers gave Darlington its closest game this season, when the Redbirds hung on for a 72-67 win Feb. 3 at home.
Black Hawk (20-4) advances to play Pecatonica for a regional championship at 7 p.m. today in Blanchardville.
"We wanted to make a playoff run," Black Hawk coach Charlie Anderson said. "I'm proud we were able to get to the regional final."
Leuzinger knocked down four of the Warriors' seven 3-pointers. Black Hawk senior Josh Meier added 10 points, and junior Jett Rufenacht chipped in seven points.
Pecatonica swept two games against Black Hawk this season. The Vikings knocked off the Warriors 66-51 Dec. 6 in Blanchardville and 54-53 in overtime Jan. 20 in South Wayne.
It will be a short turnaround before for the regional final, but the Warriors know what to expect against the Vikings. Pecatonica's A.J. Hendrickson is averaging 25 points per game in two games against the Warriors this year.
"A.J. will score his points," Anderson said. "He's an outstanding offensive and defensive player. He's the best player in our conference. It will be a battle. Both teams know each other. We just have to make sure we can contain and do a good job on the other guys. It will come down to who makes the big plays last."
Pecatonica 54, Juda 51
BLANCHARDVILLE - Juda senior Matt Schmitt scored a team-high 20 points, but Pecatonica got a big game from senior A.J. Hendrickson and was able to hang on for a thrilling victory in a WIAA Division 5 regional semifinal game.
Juda junior Keagen Haffele scored on a layup with 20 seconds to go to give the Panthers a one-point lead. Hendrickson answered by making a layup with 12 seconds left to give the Vikings a 52-51 lead. The Vikings came up with a steal, and sophomore Colten Schraepfer made two free throws with 2 seconds to go.
Hendrickson scored a game-high 23 points, and Schraepfer added 16 points.
Pecatonica (19-5) made 11 of 27 free throws.
"Juda played at a really high level, and I think that had more to do with it than our free-throw shooting," Pecatonica coach Matt Fink said of the close game. "They got into some foul trouble in the second half. Their kids never gave up. I think more than anything, I have a lot of respect for Juda. They were very gritty. It was a crazy game."
Juda also struggled from the free-throw line, shooting 50 percent (10 of 20). The Panthers hit five 3-pointers as a team. Juda senior Joe Rackow added 13 points, including two 3-pointers.
Junior Keagen Haffele chipped in 11 points for Juda, which finishes the season at 15-9.
Fink understands the two previous games will not have any bearing on tonight's regional final showdown against Black Hawk.
"I don't think there is a team playing better basketball in Division 5 than Black Hawk right now," Fink said. "Our two wins against them earlier this season don't mean anything now."
New Glarus 69, Belleville 46
NEW GLARUS - Sophomore point guard Jaden Kreklow scored a game-high 20 points and hit three 3-pointers to help New Glarus roll over Belleville in a WIAA Division 4 regional semifinal.
Sophomore Zach Feller added 15 points, including three 3-pointers. Junior Cullen Brooks pitched in nine points, and sophomore Trevor Gassman chipped in seven points.
Second-seeded New Glarus will host third-seeded Deerfield in a regional title game at 7 p.m. today.
Belleville's Drew Sharder scored a team-high 16 points and did most of his damage at the foul line, making 10 of 12. Brock Kelly pitched in 11 points.
Darlington 87, Cambridge 63
DARLINGTON - Second-ranked Darlington cruised over Cambridge.
Darlington (23-0), moves on to host SWAL rival Mineral Point in a regional championship game at 7 p.m. today. The Redbirds swept two games against Pointers this season. The Redbirds defeated the Pointers 78-58 in their first meeting Dec. 13 at Mineral Point. However, the Pointers gave Darlington its closest game this season, when the Redbirds hung on for a 72-67 win Feb. 3 at home.
